Sen. Patrick Leahy (D.-Vt.) promised in his opening statement to question Samuel Alito about his 1985 memo to serve in the Reagan Justice Department. Leahy, however, distorted the contents of the memo.
"I will, as the judge knows, ask about the disturbing memorandum he wrote to become a political appointee in the Justice Department. In that, he professed concern with the fundamental principle of one-person, one-vote, a principal of the quality that is the bedrock of our laws.”
Alito, in fact, has made clear he believes that one-person, one-vote is a bedrock principle. Moments ago, GOP operatives reminded reporters of White House spokesman Steve Schmidt's statement from November: "Judge Alito believes and has told senators that he believes 'one man one vote' is bedrock principle."
UPDATE - 2:15 p.m.: Count Sen. Herbert Kohl (D.-Wis.) as another Democrat who needs to check the record about Alito's view on the principle of one person, one vote.
Here's what Kohl had to say, which like Leahy, is a distortion of the truth.
"The same job application you wrote that you had pursued a legal career because you disagreed with many of the decisions of the Warren Court, especially, "in the areas of criminal procedure, the Establishment Clause and reapportionment.' These Warren Court decisions establishing one-person/one-vole, Miranda rights and protection for religious minorities are some of the most important cases protecting our rights and our liberties."
